320 INSTRUCTIONS OP HER MAJESTY. 



The farewell passed, and the good steamer " Pearl," with the 

 launch stowed away piecemeal in her capacious hull, and the 

 generous supplies of a liberal government, received her more 

 precious cargo of human beings on the 10th of March. Such 

 men as formed the expedition could be at no loss for occupation, 

 even in the narrow confines of their little floating home. There 

 was opportunity to reflect and converse and familiarize them- 

 selves with the plans by which they hoped to serve England 

 and Africa most acceptably. For Dr. Livingstone particularly 

 this was an expedition of vast responsibility. He had awakened 

 the interest which had determined the action of the government, 

 and which had* moved a number of organizations to project 

 missions for central Africa. His responsibility imposed heavier 

 labor on him than he had ever performed. He must assist the 

 missionaries who were about leaving England; he could not 

 think of neglecting them ; and he must see to it that the author- 

 ities which had commissioned him be not disappointed in the 

 results of the enterprise. The explicit instructions of her 

 Majesty's government were that the knowledge already attained 

 of the geography and the mineral and agricultural resources of 

 eastern and central Africa be extended, that the acquaintance 

 of the inhabitants be improved, that they might be taught to 

 apply themselves to the cultivation of their lands with a view 

 to the production of raw material to be exported to England in 

 return for British manufactures ; and it was hoped that, by 

 encouraging the natives to occupy themselves in the develop- 

 ment of the resources of the country, a considerable advance 

 might be made towards the extinction of the slave trade, as they 

 would not be long in discovering that the former would even- 

 tually be a more certain source of profit than the latter. The 

 expedition was sent in accordance with the settled policy of the 

 English government; and the Earl of Clarendon being then at 

 the head of the Foreign Office, the mission was organized under 

 his immediate care. It was an enterprise, however, which em- 

 bodied the principles of no one party. It possessed the hearts 

 of the people. 



From the various points where opportunities were afforded 

 letters were sent back to England, all breathing the same lofty 

 courage and vigorous resolution and humble faith which so 



